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All eyes will be on Normandy on 6th June, for the 75th anniversary of D-Day. The first day of ‘Operation Overlord’ (the codename for the Battle of Normandy), D-Day is often described as “the beginning of the end of World War II”. 

European active holiday specialist UTracks’ new walking trip in northern France traces the historic sites of World War II’s Battle of Normandy and is ideal for travellers wanting to dive into the region’s past in an immersive, personal way, away from the history tour buses. It joins in Arromanches, where the Allied forces established the artificial Mulberry harbour, and finishes in Bayeux, close to the Commonwealth Memorial and Bayeux War Cemetery. 

Normandy Coastal Walk NEW FOR 2019

www.utracks.com/NCW          

A reflective walking journey in Normandy, France. A region steeped in history, highlights include: 

·         Explore Arromanches and see where the Western Allies set up a harbour using sunken barges to supply the  troops; the barges are still visible today, on the beach and in the sea

·         Gain a deeper understanding of the Normandy Campaign at the informative D-Day Museum, which is raised on the former site of the artificial harbour

·         Visit the historic Omaha Beach, the most heavily defended of the five assault areas; casualties at Omaha were higher than on any other beach

·         Search the ‘Walls of the Missing’ at the American War Cemetery, the first American cemetery on European soil in World War II

·         Walk along the cliff above the Gold Beach, where over 3,000 Australian Air Force and Navy service personnel joined British forces in the landing on 6 June 1944; by the end of the day, the allied troops had advanced about six miles inland

·         Inspect the strategically located battery at Longues-sur-Mer, part of the Atlantic Wall that the Germans constructed to deter the anticipated invasion of France by the allied forces

·         Stop at the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest World War II cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France, which contains mostly burials of the Invasion of Normandy

·         Reflect at the Bayeux Memorial, which commemorates more than 1,800 soldiers who died in Normandy and are buried in unmarked graves. 

*   NEW! Normandy Coastal Walk: 5 days; daily self-guided departures April-October; from $940 per person on a twin share, B&B basis; flights not included 

Whilst the focus of the itinerary is firmly on sights of historic importance, Normandy is known for its beautiful landscapes and rich culinary traditions. The last stage of the trip takes travellers through the centre of Bayeux with its striking cathedral and historic houses, as well as the world-famous, 70-metre long tapestry, which depicts the Battle of Hastings and dates back to the 11thcentury. 

The new Normandy Coastal Walk is one of a series of active adventures fostering mutual respect, understanding and appreciation of others while travelling, an integral part of UTracks’ membership of the global initiative ‘Peace Through Tourism’.